Inking and moistening means for rotary planographic printing machines



Sept. 21, 1954 F. E. CURTIS 2,689,522

INKING AND MOISTENING MEANS FOR ROTARY PLANOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 11, 1949 '7 Sheets-Sheet l fiill? for. Finn/Fl!!! E Carfzii Sept. 21, 1954 F. E. CURTIS INKING AND MOISTENING MEANS FOR ROTA PLANOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 11. 1949 Hi l.

" jga 9995 5 995 9 .Zhmznior Eank/fiz 1 Curtis F. E. CURTIS Sept. 21, 1954 INKING AND MOISTENING MEANS FOR ROTARY PLANOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 11. 1949 mum n fflverzfr Final/1h E. Curtis Sept. 21, 1954 F. E. CURTIS 2,689,522

INKING AND MOISTENING MEANS FOR ROTARY PLANOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 11, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 I60 PR Inventor Finn/{fl 5. Curtis g, M 44.1. M

afi'lorne ya Sept. 21, 1954 F E -n5 2,689,522

INKING AND NOI'STENING MEANS FOR ROTARY PLANOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 11, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 [12 we r? for flank/l 1F. Curt/.9

Sept. 21, 1954 2,689,522

F. E. CURTIS INKING AND MOISTENING MEANS FOR ROTARY PLANOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 11, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 fizz/e72 (02".- 516 fidliilziz E ('zlr'fzls p 1954 F. E. CURTIS INKING AND MOISTENING MEANS FOR ROTARY PLANOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Oct. 11. 1949 i MN % W M W #ii'orneya Patented Sept. 21, 1954 INKIN G AND MOISTENIN G MEANS FOR ROTARY PLAN OGRAPHIO PRINTING MACHINES Franklin E. Curtis, Willoughby, -hio, assignor to Addressograph- Cleveland, Ohio, a c

Multigraph Corporation, orporation of Delaware Application October 11, 1949, Serial No. 120,776

12 Claims. 1 This invention relates to printing machines and particularly to rotary printing or duplicating machines operating on the lithographic principle.

Printing machines of the aforesaid character have come into general use in business establishments and the like where they are employed as duplicating machines for the purpose of reproducing copies of letters, business forms and the like, which, in an appropriate manner, are incorporated on so-called masters that are mounted in such a machine when copies are to :be reproduced. In such usage, the number of copies to be produced from a particular master varies widely, for in some instances only a few copies are re quired, while in other instances as many as five to ten thousand copies, or even more, may be required. Furthermore, the image on the various masters employed in the machines varies materially from master to master, for in some instances the image-bearing surface of the master will be almost entirely covered by an image that is to be reproduced, while in other instances but a very small portion of the image-bearing surface will have reproducible image thereon. It is, of course, highly advantageous to arrange a printing machine of the aforesaid character in such a way that adjustment of various elements of the machine will not be required each time a different condition is encountered in variations, such as those described above, and this, of course, can best be realized by so arranging the machine that such adjustment of various elements of the machine as may be necessary will be effected automatically so as to thereby insure that satisfactory copies will be reproduced notwithstanding a rather material change in operating conditions. for example, such as would be encountered when a change was made from a master bearing but a very small image to one that substantially covered the entire image-bearing surface of the master, and to enable these desirable ends to be realized in a novel and expeditious manner is the primary object of the present invention.

Printing machines of the aforesaid character operating on the lithographic principle depend upon the incompatability of oil and water to ef fect reproduction of images borne by masters mounted in the machine. To this end the image-- bearing surface of the master is of such nature as to be water-receptive except in the areas thereof bearing the image, and the image is aflorded by a material that is usually oil or grease receptive. Then, in the course of operation of a machine of the aforesaid character, water or other suitable moistening solution is supplied to the surface of the master to be taken up by the unimaged portions of the image-bearing surface of the master, and ink that is supplied to the master is of such a nature that it is picked up by the image but is repelled by the moistened unimaged surfaces of the master. Hence, printing machines of the aforesaid character include so-called fountains from which ink and a moistening solution are respectively supplied to the master that is mounted in the machine. I-Ieretofore it has been customary in machines of the aforesaid character to not only provide independent fountains for the moistening solution and the ink, but also independent means have been employed to transfer the ink and moistening solutions respectively from the fountains into which they are introduced to the surface of the master. With respect to this, however, it is another fundamental object of this invention to enable the moistening solution and ink to be supplied to a master mounted in the machine, from fountains into which ink and moistening solution are respectively introduced, through a single or common means of novel construction and arrangement.

In printing machines of the aforesaid character as heretofore constructed, the ink was supplied to the image on the master through one or more form rollers that were mounted in position to be engaged by the master in the course of rotation of the master with the drum on which the master was mounted in the machine. In such machines the moistening solution was supplied to the masters through so-called molletoncovered rollers which were rollers of suitable arrangement having a molleton cloth covering thereon that was replaced from time to time as it became soiled or was otherwise unsuitable to perform its intended function in the course of operation of the machines. Moreover, it was necessary to prime such molleton-covered rollers when the machine was first placed in operation .50 as to condition such rollers to render them effective to distribute the moistening solution and such priming was required each time the machine was restarted after having been idle for some time. In the novel machine of the present invention wherein a common means is employed to supply both the moistening solution and ink to the master, only the form roller, or rollers as the case may be, as heretofore employed to supply ink to the masters is utilized to supply both ink and moistening solution to the master, and in this way the use of molleton-covered rollers is avoided and the aforesaid and other objectionable aspects of the molleton-covered rollers as there were In the drawings: utilized in the machines as these have heretofore Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a lithographic been arranged are thereby avoided, and another printing machine embodying the features of the object of this invention is to enable this desirable invention; result to be realized. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in A further. object of'this invention. isthe .re- Fig. 1, the sheet supply magazinerhaving been sort to a novel construction-which will be ef- "removed; fective to supply both ink and moistening solu- Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrat tion to a master in a printing machine of the iing the driving and control elements of the maaforesaid character and to..so ,arrange such-a.10 .chine;

construction that the cleaning thereof "mayc'be nFig. 4..is.a'ver.tical sectional view of the rightexpeditiously effected when and as required. han'diportion of the machine and illustrating the In printing machines of the aforesaid characway in which the sheet feeding mechanism is ter wherein a moistening-solutionnand inkzare vassociatedwith' the lithographic printing unit; supplied to a master mounted -in the machine,'15 Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view illustrating it is necessary that a balance bemaintainedbethe ink and moisture supply mechanism of the tween the ink supply and:theumoisturesupply, :machine and its association with the master for if an excess of one or the other of these is cylinder of the machine;

supplied to the master, the quality of'the'repro- *Fig.-"6'--is a fragmentary side elevational view ductions effected in the machine ma be imof one of the rolls of the moisture supply train; paired. .Inrmachines:ofi.theeaforesaidccharacter Fig.7 is a plan viewof a part of thezmoisture as :heretofore :constructed, irindependent a1d j:ustsupply unit;

iments havetbeen'zprovided fontherinkeand mois- .Fig.-8 isa front elevational view of the moisture :turesupplies-and through'manipulatiomof these supply unit; 'adjustmentsits-hasbeencpossibleto maintainthe Fig. 9 is-a side elevationalview, taken partially required'sba'lance betweenthe-ink:and:moistening iin section, and showing further details of the .solution supplies. :Thernaturevof some iofcthe moisture supply unit;

copy thatzzis' reproduced: in :printing'mach-ines-of Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view illus- :the aforesaid-character :is; such that-=sometimesrit .trating the way in which the ductor roller of the is essential that-a very'fine-balance. be-.established.30:ink .supply unit is controlled and positioned-in "between the" ink andr moistureisupplies and: in a cleaning operation; and

some instancesappreciable skill has been required Fig. 11 is anendview; illustrating the mechain. order to establish suchqambalance. :Inview nism-shown in.-Fig..10.

'of the foregoing 'andwkindred.zconditionsaa fur- For pur-posesa'of disclosure, the invention is ther object-of.thisinvention iswtosso arrange: the gs hereinillustrated as embodied. in a lithographic :means effectiveitorsupply-ink -and-.moistening-so- .printing machine 15 that is supported on an up- .lution .toaa'masterthatithe required ibalance .standing rectangular cabinet 8B that embodies between-the ink: and moisture supplied may .be ..a hollow .base 8|, the top .of which affords a automatically maintained,z.at leastl-insofariascis whorizontalsupporting bed .82 inan elevated posinecessary-to enable reproduction-of; more ortlessaeotion. The supporting bedr82 affords-a mountxuniformcopy from the masters-to beefiected. ing for a lithographic printing unit PU..at-one Thus-=itrisaaifurtherobject :of this; invention-to end thereof and a mounting for a related sheet enable-ran :a-utomatic:adjzustmentas:aforesaid to separating and feeding unit SF at the other end cbeeeffected iw-hich :willnotrequire .manual .or 1 of the-supporting .bed. Thesheet feeding unit other adjustment of the means so long as mastersu g SF includes feed belts .B,. Fig. .2, whereby .inof .the samerkindrare emp y 0r-lalso..soi- .long .dividual sheets S that are withdrawn .from .a ..as.the.machines*arei operated -toxrepr-oducessm stack thereof carried in .-a supply magazine-M d direfit image Dy Or 430 reproduce a are advanced in succession tothe printing couple ...photographic.imagesora the like. .Since, however, .of .the.print-ing. nit -PU,,.and,after theprinting -a:change:in.the=type ofi'masteronachange from operation has been performed, .the printed sheets the reproduction" ofidirectfimagesv-torfl p -S are discharged intoa collecting hopperI-Ithat raphicr-im s *m y req i m n -0 vis disposed, as shownin Fig. 5, .within the holhe means upply gand vmoistenine solu- .low base a I' just below the printing unit PU. The

.tionto.the..-masters,. itisa further object .of this .base 3 a, pair of do rs 811) on its forward side, cinventiontoi arrange -ameansu-ofth'ischaracter ndthes do s may be opened by handles 81H. hat 'Suc m u adjustment, y The printing unit. PU as herein illustrated. isof *quiredin. order .to enable-the means to ..auto the offset lithographic type, and in respect to .matically maintain the-above-referredto balance, many. 1 vitsstructural characteristics and feay b6 expeditiously effected, eanil-a11- ancillary tures; this printing unit PU is constructed inacobject-i toaffordmamlally flpembleveadl'ustments cordance with the disclosure of the copendingapi-that are simple in construction.and,operation. .plication Edward J. Janke, Serial No 573380, other find-further obl'ects the f led January 17, 1945, issued April a, 1951, as U. s. vention w1ll:be.. apparent from...the.followingde- Patent 2547 470 and reference may be had to .scription andclaimsand-are .illustrated...i-n the of structure and operation insofar as such details princi-plesthereof. and .what .I..now. consider. to m be I rbe theabestcmode in whichLhave contemplated The prmtmg PU Includes slde frames applying those ppincip1es Qther "embodiments and 9| that are connected by means including a of the inventionembodying the same .or. equiv- 0 plurality of tie rods. Near the upper right-hand talent .pri-nciples .may be .used .and .structural vedgesof the Side frames 9 and m te y nchanges .may be made-as desired by those skilled der H333 is rotatably supp d by m n i udinthe art without departing: from the,.present :ing a supporting. shaft HM, and this master cyl- *invention -.and the purview of *the appended .inder liliiiisadaptedto beengagedon. itsside claims. surface with.a blanketcylinder. I02 thatr is supsuch'copending application for further details ported between the side frames 90 and 9| by means including a supporting shaft I03.

Beneath the blanket cylinder I02, a platen roller PR, Fig. 4; is supported by means including a supporting shaft that is extended between the side frames 90 and 9!, and in the printing operation, the ink from an image carried on a master sheet MS is transferred to a resilient blanket on the blanket cylinder I92 and then is transferred from the blanket to a sheet S that is passed between the blanket cylinder I02 and the. platen roller PR. I In Fig. 3 of the drawings, a schematic perspective view of the primary elements of the machine serves to illustrate the driving, timing and control elements of the present machine. Thus, as shown in Fig. 3, a motor I is mounted within the hollow base BI and this motor drives a pump I I which, as will hereinafter be described, serves to afford the desired suction to be applied to the sucker bar II5 as well as to afford a source of air under pressure for use in facilitating separation of the sheets by the sheet separating has a pulley I 36 which acts through a belt I31 to drive a pulley I 38, this pulley being fixed on a shaft I40 that extends through the side frames 98 and ill just below the master cylinder I00, as shown in Fig. 5.

At its other end the shaft I49 has an adjusting handwheel I4I fixed thereon so that the shaft I40 may be manually rotated when this is desired. The motor I30 is controlled by a switch I3IS located along the forward side of the machine frame, between the handles BIH, as shown in Fig. 1.

The shaft I40 has a gear I42 fixed thereon so as to mesh with an idler gear 143, thisidler gear having another gear I44 of a somewhat smaller size fixed thereto and meshed with a pinion I45.

. The pinion I45 meshes with a pinion I46 that is associated with an oscillating roll Mt which forms a part of the ink supply means, as will hereinafter he described. The pinion I 65 alsomeshes with a gear I50, this gear I59 being fixed to one end of the master cylinder IfII! so that the master cylinder It'll! is constantly driven during the operation of the motor I38. The blanket cylinder I112 has a gear I52 fixed thereto and meshed with the gear I50 so that the master cylinder and the blanket cylinder are driven in timed relationship. The platen roller PR has a pinion i514 fixed thereon as shown in Fig. 4, and this pinionis meshed with the gear I52 so that the platen roller PR is driven at a surface speed corresponding with the surface speed of the blanket cylinder I132.

The printing unit PU includes a lower driven;

feed roller I55 and an upper and opposed feed roller I 56, and the lower feed rollcr-I55 has a pinion I5! fixed thereto. To drive the feed roller I55, a gear I engages the gear I52 of the blanket cylinder, and a cluster gear including pinions IE3 and IE5 has these pinions meshed respectively with the gear I5? and the gear I50.

The relatively small pinion I meshes with an idler pinion I65, this idler pinion being meshed with a gear I61 that is fixed on a transverse shaft I68, this shaft being mounted in a pair of spaced frame plates I10 and I'll that afford support for the gearing unit that includes the gears I63I65 and I61. The gear I51 also has a gear IE9 fixed thereto so as to mesh with an idler pinion I'M which in turn meshes with a gear I175. The gear I'I5 has a sprocket I16 fixed thereto, and a chain I'I'I associated with the sprocket I'lt extends over an idler sprocket I18 and about a sprocket I19 that is fixed on amain transverse cam shaft I that is extended between the side frames III) and III of the sheet feeding unit SF. The connection that is thus afforded serves to drive the cam shaft I30 in a one-to-one relationship with respect to the master cylinder I00 and blanket cylinder I 62, and since the cam shaft I80 has cam means thereon for governing the operating means of the various elements of the sheet feeding unit SF, and this connection assures that the sheet feeding unit SF will operate in proper timed relationship with respect to the printing unit PU. p

The transverse shaft IE8 is utilized to drive the belts B and the feed rollers or disks II8I20 of the sheetfeeding unit SF, and for this purpose the shaft I68 has a gear I82 fixed thereon so as to mesh with a pinion I83 fixed on the shaft of a roller l 34 that supports the belts B adjacent to the printing unit PU. This shaft also has a sprocket I843 fixed thereon, and a chain,I85 extended around the sprocket I 848 is also extended around a sprocket I86 fixed on the shaft of a roller I83 which supports the other or left-hand ends of the belts B as viewed in Fig. 4. The shaft Itds of the roller 1% has a sprocket I90 fixed thereon, and a chain i9! extended about the sprocket I99 also extends about asprocket I92 which is fixed on a shaft I I88 which supports the I feed disks IIB. The gear and chain connections that are thus afforded are so arranged that the feed disks I it? and I29 withdraw the sheet S relatively rapidly from theinagazine M, and when the feed rollers lIii-IZQ have released the trailing edge of a sheet, this sheet is then advanced by the belts B at a speed slightly greater than the feed speed of the rollers II ii-IEE), this being at tained by driving the belts B at a surface speed somewhat higher than that of the feed rolls I i8-I2ii.

Under and in accordance with the present invention, the ink supply and the moisture supply are so arranged that the ink and moisture are combined in a single train of rollers so as to be simultaneously applied to the master sheet MS carried on the master cylinder me. In attaining this result. the machine is provided with an ink fountain 550 that is of the usual construction and embodies a usual fountain roll dfiI and the related adjusting means of the usual kind. The fountain roll tEI is operated in the same manner as in the aforesaid Janke application. This fountain roll 15! is disposed adjacent to a ductor roll 452 that is carried by a pair of supporting arms 53 formed at the ends of a U-shaped bracket 453 A, Fig. 9. that has its bar portion fixed to one side of a squared rock shaft tli'uiwhich extends between the side frames of the printing unit PU somewhat above the axis of the ductor roll 452. The ductor roll M32 is arranged to be supported and moved laterally by rocking movement of the rock shaft 454 and the arms see so as to bring the ductor roll A52 alternately into contact with the fountain roll 35! and an oscillating roll I48, and the ink that is thus taken from the fountain roll MI by the duc'tor roll is transferred to the oscillating roll and is then applied to a form roller 555 that engages both the oscillating roll M8 and the master cylinder IM. The form roll 455 iscarried in a pair of mounting frames 456 that are pivoted on the axis of the rock shaft 454, and spring means 45'! act on the frames 456' so as to urgethe form roll 455 into engagement with the master cylinder Ifit. Such engagement is governed by a cam member 658 that engages arms formed on the respective frames 45B, and this cam rod 458 has an operating lever 46 fixed on its outer end as shown in Fig. .1. When the lever 460 is in one position, the form roll 455 is separated from the master cylinder I00, while in another position the form roller 455' engages the moisture cylinder.

The oscillating roller I48 is of the well-known kind which is reciprocated in an endwise direction in the course of operation, and this is attained by affording a driving connection through the gear [46.

Under the present invention, the required moisture for carrying on the lithographic process is applied to the oscillating roller I48, and this is accomplished through a moisture or liquid supply fountain unit SU that is mounted beneath the ink fountain 450 and which has roller means therein to apply liquid in controlled amounts to the oscillating roller M8. The moisture or liquid supplying unit SU is shown in Fig. 5 in association with the ink fountain and the related rollers, and the structure of the liquid supply unit SU is shown in detail in Figs. 7 to 9 of the drawings. Thus, it will be observed that the unit SU has a relatively shallow upwardly opening pan 4% that has front and rear walls 48! and -482 and which has relatively thick end walls 483 and 434, as will be evident in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The end walls 483 and 484 extend downwardly for a considerable distance, as shown at 483D and 4841'), and in addition, each such end wall has an upwardly extending bearing arm 485. These bearing arms extend upwardly at somewhat of an angle, as will be evident in Fig. 9 of the drawlugs, and each such bearing arm has a bearing channel 481 formed therein so as to extend longitudinally of the arms in a downward direction. These channels 487 serve to receive the projecting mounting shafts of a plurality of rolls that are to run in an engaged relationship with respect to each other. Such rolls include a liquid fountain roll 4%, an intermediate roll MN, and a final roll 492 that is to engage the oscillating roll I48. These projecting ends of the shafts of such rollers are fitted in relatively small rectangular bearings 495, as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, such bearings engaging the sides of the slots 581 but being spaced from each other. Such slots 487 are formed by milling through the upwardly projecting bearing arms 485, and the outer edges of the slots are closed by cap plates 385C that are secured in place by screws.

For the purpose of removably mounting the pan ist in position in the machine, a pair of shiftable supporting plates 50! are mounted on and against the respective outer faces of the end walls 483 and 484. These mounting plates 50! each have a rearwardly opening horizontal notch 582 in the rear end thereof, and in addition, horizontal securing slots 503 are formed in these mounting plates 50!. Screws 504 are extended through the slots 5B3 and into the end walls 483 and 484, thereby to support the mounting plates 50! for reciprocating movement relative to the pan Mill in a front to rear direction and through a stroke defined by the slots 593. Near their outer ends and at their upper edges, the mounting plates 50! have rearwardly extending hook-shaped arms 501, as best shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, and when the mounting plates 5M are in their most rearward positions, these arms 5i are disposed directly over upwardly opening positioning slots 508 that are formed in the upper edges of the end walls 483 and 484.

8 In mounting the unit SU in position in the machine, the two mounting plates 50'! are withdrawn to their forward positions by means of inwardly projecting handles 516, Fig. 7, and the pan 480 is moved into position beneath the ink fountain 450 and is then moved upwardly so that the final roll 492 engages the oscillating roll I48 and the slots 508 embrace a transverse tie rod 5l2 that extends between the side frames of the printing unit PU. When the pan 480 is in this position, the mounting plates 58H are shifted in a rearward direction, and in such movements the horizontal rear slots 562 move into embracing relationship with a pair of projecting studs Bi l that are afforded on the inner surfaces of the side plates of the printing unit. In this same movement, the hook-like arms Sill are moved into position over the horizontal tie rod 512, and by reason of the upwardly concaved lower surfaces of the arms 5517, as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, the weight of the pan 4B8 serves to hold the mounting plates 5M against undesired forward or releasing movement.

The liquid is supplied to the pan 48% up to a predetermined level, and this is accomplished in accordance with usual practice in that a vertically extending mounting well 528 is provided as a part of the forward wall 43!, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the well are being open at its inner side as at 520A to afford communication with the inside of the pan 480. The well 526 serves as a mounting for a supply fitting 522 that carries a liquid supply bottle 52% in accordance with usual practice. This fitting 522 is normally equipped with a check valve to facilitate insertion and removal of the fitting.

The liquid that is thus supplied to the pan 4&9 is maintained at a predetermined level within the pan by reason of the downward extent of the fitting 522 within the well 52d, and this level is such that when the fountain roll 5% is in position, the lower edge portion of the fountain roll runs in the body of liquid. The liquid that is thus carried upwardly by the fountain roll 49%] is transferred to the roll i9! and then to the roll 492, from which the moisture is transferred to the oscillating roll I48 which, of course, also has ink applied thereto by the ductor roll 452.

In attaining proper control of the amount of moisture that is thus supplied and an automatic balancing of the moisture supply with the ink supply, the present invention provides for adjustment of the pressure that is effective between the rolls 493, 49!, 4% and [48, and this is accomplished by applying an adjustable upward pressure to the bearings 455 of the fountain roll 490. In order to enable this to be accomplished, a pair of pressure pins 525 are mounted in the end walls 483 and 484 so as to extend downwardly from the lower ends of the channels G87, and, means are provided whereby these pressure pins 525 may be forced in an upward direction to apply the desired pressure between the several rolls of the moisture supply train. In accordance with the present invention, the pressure applying means are so arranged that they may be conveniently actuated, and so that the amount of such actuation may be readily and easily controlled and balanced in respect to the two ends of the fountain roll 49%.

Thus, as shown in Figs. 7 to 10, the side walls 483 and 434 have horizontal bores 530 extended thereinto from the forward edges thereof, and adjacent the outer portions of these bores, enlarged counterbores 5390 are formed, these counterbcres being internally threaded. Into each counterbore 530C, a sleeve 532 is threaded and each sleeve has a locknut 533 thereon which may be locked against the forward edge of the wall. Sleeves 532 are also internally threaded, and an adjusting screw 535 is threaded through each of the sleeves 532. The innermost end of each of these screws has a smooth or unthreaded portion 535A that is rotatably supported within the inner smooth portion of the bore 530. The rear end of each screw 535 has a tapered end 535T that is adapted to engage a correspondingly tapered lower end 525T formed on the related pressure pin 525. Thus, by screwing the adjustment screw 535 in a rearward or inward direction, the related pressure pin 525 may be forced in an upward direction.

When the unit SU is in place, it is desirable to, limit the amount of pressure that may be placed on the several rolls that are carried in such unit, and in accomplishing this, the screws 535 are screwed inwardly until the desired maximum pressure has been reached and until the pressure on the opposite ends of the rolls has been properly equalized. The sleeves 532 are then backed outwardly until they contact the adjacent surfaces of actuating heads 535H that are afiorded on the adjusting screws 535, and the locknuts 533 are then tightened. The positioning of the various rollers in the unit SU as thus set will give the minimum amount of moisture supply, and the operator may then adjust the screws 535 in an outward direction so as to obtain feeding of additional moisture. To facilitate such adjustment and insure that the adjustments will be uniformly attained in respect to the opposite ends of the rolls, each of the heads 535H is provided with a pair of pins 535P disposed at diametrically opposite points on the head 535H and extended inwardly along opposite sides of the screw 535. Thus, the two pins 535P on each such head 535H are adapted in the rotative movements of the adjusting screws 555 to successively engage a retaining spring 538, one such retaining spring being afforded for each adjusting screw 535. The end of each such spring 538 which is to contact the pins 535P is provided with a slight indentation that by engagement with one of the pins 535P, will serve to retain the adjusting screw 535 in set position and against accidental rotative displacement. The adjusting operation may be performed by rotating two screws 535 through the same number of half-turns and in the same direction, and this enables the operator to readily and easily adjust the pressure between the rolls of the unit SU.

Under and in accordance with the present invention, further means are afforded for limiting and controlling the amount of liquid or moisture that is fed into the ink train while at the same time assuring a quality of even distribution of such moisture. Such means are afforded by the roller 492 which, as shown in Figs. and 6, is formed with a spiral groove 492G that extends throughout the length of the outer surface of the roller 492. The groove 492G serves to afford a continuous spiral land 492L, and the Widths of the land and the groove are so related that the land constitutes substantially fifty percent of the area of the roller. Through this arrangement, the amount of moisture that may be transmitted to the oscillating roller I48 is limited, and yet the moisture is uniformly distributed on the roller I48.

It might be pointed out that in the ink train and themoisture train of the printing unit of the present invention, all of the rolls are of what might be termed a solid material, as distinguished from fabric materials and the like that have heretofore been required for at least some of the rollers in machines of this general character. Thus, the oscillating roller I48 and the ink fountain roller 45E are made from relatively hard moldable material such as hard rubber, while all of the other rollers in the ink and moisture trains are made of a moldable material such as soft rubber, or more specifically or a rubber or other material that is somewhat softer than the materials used for the rollers I48 and 45!.

It is desirable, periodically, to clean the rolls that enter into the application of the moisture and the ink to the master cylinder, and this may be accomplished readily and easily in the present machine by securing an absorbent cleaning sheet on the master cylinder ldll in the position normally occupied by the master sheet MS. The

machine is then started with the form roller 455 out of contact with respect to the master cylinder, and the operator applies a considerable quantity of a cleaning solution to the form roller 455. This moisture, due to the continuous rotation of the several rolls caused by the rotation of the oscillating roll M8, is spread downwardly through all of the rolls that are in contact, and it should be pointed out that in the present machine this cleaning action :may also be applied to the ductor roll 452 by holding this roll in contact with the oscillating roll I 48 during the cleanins, operation. This is accomplished by a cleaning control handle 55!] that is pivoted on the tie rod 5l2, this handle 550 being shown in Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings. The rock shaft 454 upon which the ductor roll 452 is mounted is provided with a forwardly extending arm 552 that has a laterally projecting pin 553 adjacent its forward end, and by applying a downward force to the end of the arm 552, the ductor roll may be held against the action of its spring 41!} and against the oscillating roll I48. The cleaning control handle 550 has a projecting cam tooth 554 formed thereon that may be moved into position over the pin 553, and when this is done, the parts maintain this relationship and the ductor roll 452 is held in engagement with the oscillating roll I48.

When the cleaning solution has spread through and about all of the contacted rolls, the handle 460 is operated to place the form roll 4515 in contact with the master cylinder [00, and when this is done, the absorbent cleaning sheet that has been placed on the master cylinder I00 is effective to take up the cleaning solution and the dirt carried thereby so that after a short period of operation the rolls are left in a clean and dry condition, after which the form roll 455 may be retracted and the machine may be stopped. If desired, the ink fountain may then be removed and the fountain roll 45l cleaned in the usual manner.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that the present invention may be advantageously employed in various planographic processes, of which the lithographic machine herein illustrated affords but one example. It will also be evident that the present invention materially simplifies the operation of planographic or lithographic printing machines and that it assures continued production of high quality reproductions even when the percentage of reproducible copy on a master sheet varies quite widely from the percentage of copy on previously used master sheets.

More specifically, it will be apparent that the present invention enables a proper and effective balance to be maintained automatically between the ink and the moistening solutions during the operation of the machine, and that because of this maintenance of an automatic balance between the ink and the moistening solutions, the operation of the machine is materially simplified and the quality and uniformity of the reproductions are materially improved.

It will also be apparent that the present invention affords a planographic or lithographic machine in which the cleaning of the operating elements is materially simplified, thereby to greatly increase the range of usefulness of machines of this general character.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to-be limited to the precise details'set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

Iclaim:

1; In a planographic or analogous printing machine wherein ink and a moistening solution aref'ed to a master in a machine to enable reproductions of an image on'the master to be effected, a'fountain into which ink may be introduced, a fountain into which a moistening solution may be introduced, at least one roller engageable with the-master, a roller effective to pick up ink from the fountain therefor, another roller effective to pick up moistening solution from the fountain therefor, roller means for transferring ink to said at'leastone roller from the roller effective to pick up ink from said ink fountain, other roller means each'slidably mounted in a'pair of guide slots for transferringmoistening solution to said one roller from the roller effective to pick u moistening solution from the fountain therefor, and means for regulating the pressure of at least selected of the rollers one on the other in the roller means effective to transfer moistening solution to said atleast one roller to thereby regulate the amount of moistening solution withdrawn from the fountain therefor, said last-named means including pressure pins in said guide slots adapted to adjust the lower of saidrollers slidably mounted therein, and adjusting screws having ends engaging the lower ends of said pressure pins, the engaging ends of said pressure pins and said adjusting screws being tapered to permit, throughadjustment' of said screws, selective movement of the pressure pins relative to said lower roller.

2; In a planographic or analogous printing machine wherein ink and a moistening solution arefed'to'a master in a machine to enable reproductions ofan'image on the-master to be effected, a fountain into which ink may be introduced, a

fountain into which a moistening solution may be introduced, a form roller engageable with the master, a distributing roller engaged with the form roller, a roller effective to pick up ink from the fountain therefor, another roller effective to pick up moistening solution from the fountain therefor, roller meansfor transferring to the distributing roller ink picked upby the roller effective to pick up: ink

from the ink fountain, a train of rollers for transferring moistening solution to the distributing roller from the roller effective to pick up moistening solution from the fountain therefor, the rollers in said train of rollers each being'slid including a ductor roller" train one-on the other tothereby regulate the amount of moistening solution withdrawn from the fountain therefor, the last-named means=in'- eluding a pair of pressure pins one in each'of" the guide slotsv to apply selective pressures to the.

opposite ends of the-rollers in said train of rollers; and a pair of-adjusting pinsmounted'in' the 'mois turefountain for selectivelymoving the -pressurepins'in-said' guide slots; said pins being'engaged at tapered; ends thereof with tapered ends'of'the pressure pins".-

3. In a planographic: or" analogous printing: machine wherein ink and a moistening solution are-fed to a master in amachine to enable: reproductions' of an image on: the master to be effected,-

afounta-in into which'ink maybe introduced; a"

therefor; rolleri means including a ductor'roller fortransferring ink'to said at'least r one roller from the-roller effective to pick up ink from said ink fountain,- other roller-"means for transferring moiS-tening' solution to said one'roller from thei roller effective to pick upmoistening solutionl from the-fountain therefor-,- said other roller means being mounted for sliding movement in. a pairof guideslots', oneof the rollers inisaid'. other roller meanshaving a spiral groove formed in the periphery thereoft to thereby reducethe peripheral" area thereof and thus restrict' the quantity of 1 moistening solution transferred by said grooved'roller from one roller to another in" said other roller means so as to' regulate the: amount ofmoiStening solution withdrawn from. the fountain therefor by said other roller means, and" means effective to regulate the pressure. exertedby one'roller on the other. in: saidother' roller means--whereby further regulation of: the quantity of moistening solution transferredlby said'other roller means may be effected, the-last named-means including a set'- of pressure. pins ends of said pressure pins-being tapered, and-4a.

set of'adjusting screws having tapered endsen'. gagedwith'the tapered ends of" said pressure ins to' permit selective adjustment of the pressure. pins in said "slots:

A unitforsupplying m'oistening solution to means effective to distributethe same one master in a planograpliic or analogous printing: ma chine, a fountain, aplurality of rollers respectiveiy'engaged one with another and-of which one is effective to pick up'moistening solution. from said fountain; bearing arms extended inl an upwarddirection from opposite sides of the fountain and-having g-uide slots extended down+ wardly' therein in adjacent faces thereof anduini. which the'end portionsof said rollers are-dis:- posed to thereby=be supported for'rotation men-- gagement one-with'the' other, one of said'rollers having a" spiral groove formed in theperiphery thereofto-thereby reduce the p'eripheralxiareai thereof whereby the quantity of moisteningiisolue restricted whereby the quantity of moistening; solution transferredfromsaidxfountair'rimay be regulated, adjustment means mounted on said fountain and including a pair of manually operable adjusting screws disposed in an accessible position on said fountain, said screws having tapered inner ends extending in toward the lower of said rollers, and means interposed between said adjustment screws and said rollers and effective under control of said adjustment screws to cause said rollers to slide in said bearing arms to thereby regulate the pressure exerted by said rollers one on the other to thereby afford an adjustable regulation of the quantity of moistening solution transferred from said fountain, the last-named means including pressure pins mounted in each of said guide slots and having the lower ends thereof tapered and in engagement with said tapered ends of the adjusting screws.

5. In a planographic or analogous printing machine wherein ink and o. moistening solution are fed to a master in the machine to enable reproductions of animage on the master to be effected, a fountain into which ink may be introduced, a fountain into which a moistening solution may be introduced, a form roller engageable With the mastena distributing roller engaged with the form, roller, a roller efiective to pick up moistening solution from the fountain therefor, roller means including a ductor roller for transferring to the distributing roller ink picked up by the roller effective to pick up ink from the ink fountain, a train of rollers for transferring moistening solution to the distributing roller from the roller effective to pick up moistening solution from the fountain therefor, and means for regulating the pressure of the rollers in the roller train one on the other to thereby regulate the amount of moistening solution withdrawn from the fountain therefor, the last-named means including bearing supports having inclined slots therein in which the rollers in a train of rollers are mounted for movement individually and as a body toward and away from said distributing roller, pressure pins in each of said slots adapted to apply pressure to the opposite ends of the lower of the rollers in said slots, and a pair of adjusting screws having ends engaged with lower ends of said pressure pins, said engaged ends of the pins and screws being tapered to permit selective adjustment of the pressure pins through the screws.

6. In a planographic or analogous printing machine wherein ink and a moistening solution are fed to a master in a machine to enable reproduction of an image on the master to be effected, a fountain into which ink may be introduced, a fountain into which a moistening solution may be introduced, at least one roller engageable with the master, other rollers respectively engaged one with the other and with said at least one roller and of which one is operative to pick up ink from the fountain therefor and of which another is effective to pick up moistening solution from the fountain therefor whereby ink and moistening solution are transferred to said at least one roller and thence to the master, means ,for regulating the pressure of at least selected of said rollers one on another to thereby regulate the amount of material withdrawn from the fountain therefor, the last-named means including a pair of bearing arms having vertical guide slots therein mounting the opposite ends of said selected rollers for sliding movement therein, pressure pins arranged vertically in said slots substantially at right angles to and independently of the ends of said selected rollers for apply ing vertically applied pressure to said selected rollers, and manually operable adjusting pins arranged independently of and substantially at right angles to said pressure pins and having ends engaging ends of said pressure pins for selectively regulating the amount of pressure applied to said selected rollers by the pressure pins.

7. In a planographic or analogous printing machine wherein ink and a moistening solution are fed to a master in said machine to enable reproductions of an image on the master to be effected, a fountain into which ink may be introduced, a fountain into which a moistening solution may be introduced, at least one roller engageable with the master, a roller effective to pick up ink from the fountain therefor, another roller effective to pick up moistening solution from the fountain therefor, other rollers engaged one with another and interposed between said at least one roller and the rollers respectively associated with said fountains and which other rollers are effective to transfer ink and moistening solution to said at least one roller and thence to the master, and means for regulating the pressure of at least selected of said rollers one on the other to thereby regulate the amount of moistening solution withdrawn from the fountain therefor, the last-named means including a pair of bearing arms having guide slots therein mounting the opposite ends of said selected rollers for sliding movement therein, pressure pins disposed in said slots substantially at right angles to the axes of said selected rollers and independently of the ends of saidrollers for bearing against and applying pressure to said opposite ends of the selected rollers, and manually operable adjusting pins arranged independently of and at a substantial angle to the axes of said pressure pins and adapted tobear against said pressure pins to thereby permit selective regulation of the amount of pressure applied to said selected rollers by the pressure pins. i 8. A unit for supplying moistening solution to means effectiveto distribute the same on a master in a planographic or analogous printing machine comprising a fountain, a plurality of rollers respectively engaged one with another and of which one is effective to pick up moistening solution from said fountain, bearing arms extended in an upward direction from opposite sides of the fountain and constituted and arranged to slidably receive said rollers to thereby support the same for rotation, adjustment pins mounted on said fountain and each including a manually operable end portion disposed in an accessible outboard position on said fountain, and pressure pins interposed between the other ends of said adjustment pins and said rollers and engaging said other ends of the adjustment pins and said end portions of said rollers so as to be effective under control of said adjustment pins to cause said rollers to slide in said bearing arms to thereby regulate the pressure exerted by said rollers one on another, said pins being mounted independently of each other and of said rollers and defining between them an included angle of approximately ninety degrees.

9. A unit for supplying moistening solution to means effective to distribute the same on a master in a planographic or analogous printing machine comprising a fountain, a plurality of rollers respectively engaged one with another and of which one is effective to pick up moistening 7155 solution 7 from. said fountain, bearing arms extendedin an upward direction from opposite sides or the tountai-n'a nd having 'guidezslotsnextended downwardly therein adjacent faces thereof and in WhlChIt-l'lG end portions of. said rollers are .slid'ably disposed to thereby be supported for rotation. insengagem'ent one with the othergadjustment means. mounted on said fountain and including a set of manually operable adjusting pins disposed in an accessible position on: said fountain, .andother adjusting pins-disposed in :saidguide slots at an angle to the firstnamed pinsand interposed. between the end portions of said. rollers and. the .endszof the firstnamed 1 adjustment pins in; engagement with said end. portions of said rollers. and: said ends. of the. firstenamed pins .soasto be effieotiveunder control ofthev first-named adjusting pins to cause said rollers to slidein .said bearing arms to thereby. regulate the pressure exerted by said rollers .one on another, thesecond-named set of pins beingxmounted independently of saidend portions of said rollers whiohthey engage.

1150. .A unit for supplying moistening solution to means effeotiveto distribute the same on .a master'in a. planographic or analogous printing machine :comprising a. fountain, a plurality of rollers respectively engaged one with another and of which onelis effective to pick up moistening solutionfrom .said'fountain, bearing arms extended in an upward direction from opposite sides of the :fountainand having guide slotsv extended downwardly therein in adjacent ifaoes thereofand in which the end portions of said rollers are-disposed to thereby be. supported for rotation .inengagement one with the other, pressure pins mounted vertically in said slots "substantially at right angles to the 'axes of said rollers and independently of said end portions of. said rollers so as to be. adapted to: be pressed upwardly to engage and regulate the pressure on either side of said rollers mounted in said guide slots,..one of said rollers having a spiral groove formedin the periphery thereof to thereby reduce :the peripheral areathereof whereby the quantity ofumoisteningsolution transferred by such grooved roller fromone to another of the rollers engaged therewith is restricted and whereby the quantity :of moistening solution transferred from said fountain may be regulated, and adjustable pressure regirlatingmeans engaging. thelower ends of. said pressure pins at an. angle :so. as to be effective to regulate selectively the pressure applied to each of the pressure pins: along a line at an angle to the axes. of said pressure :pins.

11. A unit for supplying 'moistening solution to meanseifeotive to distribute the same on a master in a. planog-raphic or analogous printing machinecomprising a fountain; a plurality of rollers respectively engaged one with another and of which one. is eifective to pick upmoistening solution from said fountain, bearing arms extended an upward direction from opposite sides of the fountain and having guide slots extended downwardly therein :in adjacent faces thereof and in which the end portions of said rollers are disposed to thereby be supported for rotation in engagement one with another, one of said rollers having. a spiral-groove formed in the periphery thereof to thereby reduce'the peripheral area there-of whereby the. quantity of moistening solution 1 transferred by .such grooved roller from one to another of the .rollers engaged therewith restricted and whereby the quantity of moistening; solution transferred from said fountain may be regulated, adjustment means mounted onrsaidlfiountain and including a pair of manually operable adjusting pins disposed in an accessible position on said fountain, and another pair of pins disposed in said guide slots independently of said rollers so as to be in position to bear against said rollers and interposed between said rollers and said adjustment means and effective under control of said adjustment means to. cause said rollers to slide in said bearing arms toxthereby regulate the pressure exerted by said rollers one on another to thereby afford an adjustable regulation of the quantity of moisten- :ing solution transferred from said fountain.

.A unit. for supplying reproducing solution to. means effective to distribute the same on a master ina planographic or analogous printing machine comprising -a..fountain, a plurality of rollers respectively engaged one with the other and of which one. is. effective to pick up solution from said fountain, bearing arms extended in anvupward direction from opposite sides of the fountain and havingv guide slots extended downwardly therein .in adjacent faces thereof and in which the end portions of said rollers are disposedto thereby be supported for rotation in engagement one with the other, andpressure means effective on said rollers to maintain the same in engagementone with the other, the lastnamed means including a pair of pressure pins slidably mounted in said slots independently'of said rollers and having ends for engaging and applying pressure to said opposite ends of the selected rollers, and manually operable adjusting pins having ends for engaging the corresponding ends ofand selectively regulating the amount of pressure applied to said pressure pins along a line which is at a substantial angle to the axes of said pressure pins.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number .Name Date 660,149 Deutsch Oct. 23, 1900 694,570v North Mar. 4, 19.02 999,510. "Main .Aug. 1,. 1911 1,142,268 Pearce etal June 8, 1915 1,535,567 Bornschein Apr. 28, 1925 ...1,807,855 Novick. June 2,. .1931 1,974,544 Rowe'll Sept. 25, 1934 1,988,970 Hotchkiss Jan. 22, 1935 2,018,373 Maxwell Oct. 22,1935 2,110,216 Goe'dike Mar. 8, 1938 2,144,881 Huck Jan. 24, 1939 32,162,248 .Delap'lane June .13, 1939 2,165,235 Curtis July .11, 1939 2,238,050 Goedike Apr. 15, 194.1

2,274,797 Kluge Mar. 3, .1942

12,314,351 Harrold Mar. 23, 1943 2,369,814 Worthington Feb. 20,. .1945 2,383,970 .Huck Sept, 4,1945 2,402,442 Perry June 18, 1946 2,547,471 Janke .Apr. 3, 1951 

